Cutting device with anvil presser being pivotally arranged at both ends



July 19, 1966 s. 'r. PARKS ETAL 3,261,250

CUTTING DEVICE WITH ANVIL PRESSER BEING PIVOTALLY ARRANGED AT BOTH ENDS Filed July 7, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG! """ A m m.

5| 52 a z I2 26 I, E38 27 E-IGZ 2; mu

//Vl 0R5 52 52 3 W W M ATTORNEYS July 19, 1966 s. T. PARKS ETAL 3,261,250

CUTTING DEVICE WITH ANVIL PRESSER BEING PIVOTALLY ARRANGED AT BOTH ENDS Filed July 7, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 4

Jam/

WWWW

ATTORNEYS July 19, 1966 s. T. PARKS ETAL 3,261,250

CUTTING DEVICE WITH ANVIL PRESSER BEING PIVOTALLY ARRANGED AT BOTH ENDS Filed July '7, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORNEYS July 19, 1966 s. T. PARKS ETAL 3,261,250

CUTTING DEVICE WITH ANVIL PRESSER BEING PIVOTALLY ARRANGED AT BOTH ENDS Filed July 7, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG? FIGS

I l \1 H2 103 113 ns //v|//vr0/?5 vjamwff a z United States Patent 3,261 250 CUTTING DEVICE WITHANVIL PRESSER BEING PIVOTALLY ARRANGED AT BOTH ENDS Samuel T. Parks and Leon E. Levasseur, Holliston, Mass.,

assignors to Cardiosonics Medical Instruments Corporation, Belmont, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Filed July 7, 1964, Ser. No. 384,020 24 Claims. (Cl. 83-557) The present invention relates to a cutting device particularly useful for cutting selected portions from a piece of sheet material.

There is a present need for an improved means and method of cutting portions of sheet material, such as long strips of paper, efficiently and effectively. This need is particularly acute where long rolls of graph paper are employed to record data obtained by monitoring techniques, and it is desirable to save limited and exemplary segments of the roll for future reference.

In some applications, such as electrocardiographs, the information is recorded by trained technicians on electrocardiograph leads, and select portions of the lead are removed for preservation as a permanent record. Because of the mass of material being processed, it is important that the selected portion of the lead be cut quickly, efiiciently and neatly.

Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide a cutting device for efficiently and quickly cutting selected portions from a surrounding piece of sheet material. It is also an object of this invention to provide a means and method by which uniform selected portions may be cut rapidly and neatly from a lead. A further object of this invention is to provide a cutting device which is compact, lightweight, relatively inexpensive to manufacture, and is certain of operation and not subject to frequent repairs or adjustments. A further object of this invention is to provide a cutting device of the type described which may be rapidly adjusted for cutting selected portions of a sheet material and in particular selected portions of elongated rolls of graph paper.

A further object of this invention provides an improved means for cutting segments from a graph paper in which a single movement of a lever arm of a device may effectively cut a selected segment from an elongated graph paper. A further object of this invention is to provide an improved means for cutting segments from a graph paper that minimizes the energy required for cutting. Another object of this invention is to provide a cutting device having cutting blades that do not require frequent replacement.

The cutting device of this invention generally comprises a continuous cutting blade having a cutting edge lying in a horizontal plane. The cutting blade is suitably mounted on a spring means for limited resilient movement in a plurality of directions. A platen having a nonresilient surface is shaped to be pressed into uniform cutting contact with the cutting edge is supported over the cutting blade. Means support the platen for limited longitudinal movement over the cutting edge. This platen support means is in turn supported on a second support, which includes a lever arm pivoted at one end to a frame, with the lever arm adapted to pivot the platen into a position generally over the cutting edge. When pivoted over the cutting edge, the platen is adapted to be 3,261,253 Patented July 19, 1966 engaged at one end by a lip which acts as a pivot point for that end and by the lever means at the other end. When the platen surface is pivoted about the one end into pressure engagement with a piece of paper resting on the cutting edge, continued movement of the lever arms exerts sufiicient additional force on the platen nonresilient surface in the direction of the cutting edge to cut a portion from the sheet of paper conforming in shape to the outline of the cutting edge.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following specification when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a cutting device embodying the invention in an open position;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the device shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is an end view looking from the left of the view shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross section taken substantially along the line 44 of FIG. 3, but in a closed position;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of a cutting device in an open position embodying a preferred form of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the device shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an end view looking from the left of the view shown in FIG. 5; and

FIG. 8 is a cross section taken substantially along the line 88 of FIG. 7, but in a closed position.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4 of the drawings, a frame 1 is provided with side walls 2 and 3, a forward wall 4 and a bottom 5.

A continuous cutting blade 6 (FIGS. 2 and 4) is positioned Within the frame. This cutting blade is preferably rectangular in shape with curved corners and has an upper edge 7 lying preferably in a horizontal plane which presents a continuous rectangular cutting edge against which a sheet of paper is adapted to be cut. The cutting blade may be formed of any suitable blade material such as is used in steel rule dies. The blade may be mounted about a wooden block 8 (FIG. 4) having a cross sectional configuration conforming to the inside of the blade and may be secured by suitable means such as screws 9. Preferably a resilient pad 10 is positioned above the block 8 and may be formed of material such as polyurethane foam. The block 8 is secured to a base 11 by suitable means which in turn are secured by screws 12 to the leaf spring 13. The leaf spring 13 may, if desired, be substantially rectangular in shape, with the base 11 secured to its forward end. The rear end of the spring 13 is secured, for example, by screws 16 to the bosses 15 which project upwardly and may be integrally formed with the bottom 5. A machine screw 17 is threaded downwardly through the block 8 and base 11 toward contact with the upper surface of bottom 5. Adjustment of the screw will adjust the normal down limit of the cutting edge 7 which effectively defines the thickness and number of papers that may be cut at one time. The spring 13 supports the cutting blade for vertical and rocking movement over a limited distance so as to facilitate uniform engagement of the cutting edge 7 with the platen.

The platen 20 is formed with a hard nonresilient surface preferably rectangularly shaped and adapted to be pressed into uniform cutting contact with the cutting edge 7. This platen may be formed of a hardened steel with a flat uniform surface. The platen is supported on a suitable support such as the arm 21 which may be of any suitable shape. In the embodiment illustrated the arm 21 is formed as an elongated flat member having a width preferably slightly greater than the width of platen 20. The arm 21 is reinforced on its upper surface by a ridge 22 which is formed as a U-shaped member having legs 23 and a bight 24 (FIG. 2).

The arm 21 is loosely engaged with a second support means 25 at its rear end, for limited movement of the platen surface longitudinally of the cutting device (FIG. 4). The second support means 25 preferably comprises an inverted U-shaped member having opposite legs 26 and a web 27 which interconnects the upper ends of the legs 26. The lower ends of the legs 26 are pivotally engaged one each to a side wall 2 and 3 by pins 29 which extend coaxially inwardly from the side walls 2 and 3 on a level below the horizontal plane passing through the cutting edge 7. This second support means 25 must withstand considerable stresses and therefore should be made relatively substantial as is illustrated in the drawings.

The platen arm 21 is loosely interengaged with the second support means 25 by the mechanism best illustrated in FIG. 4. A lip 31 extends transversely downwardly from the lower surface of the arm 21. This lip 31 is adapted to be engaged at its forward edge by inwardly extending pins 32 which are mounted respectively on the inner surfaces of legs 26 and extend inwardly therefrom. The upper surface of the arm 21 is engaged by rollers 33 coaxially mounted on shafts secured respectively to the inner surfaces of legs 26 with their axes parallel to the axes of pivot 29. Rollers 33 are positioned rearwardly of pins 32 and lip 31, as viewed in FIG. 4. The rollers are adapted to roll over the upper surface of the arms 21 in a manner hereafter described. The arm 21 is normally tensioned to rotate in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 4 about the pins 32 by helical expansion springs 34. These springs 34 have one end secured to the upper surface of the arm 21 and the other secured to the web 27 and exert an expansive force therebetween. counterclockwise rotation of the arm 21 about pins 32 is limited by engagement of the upper surface of the arm with roller 33.

A lever arm extension comprising a shaft 36 projects .angul-arly forward from the support means 25 with the rear end of the shaft 36 engaging the web 27 and the forward end of the shaft suitably terminated in a knob 38.

The forward wall 4 is flared upwardly at its center portion to provide a projecting portion 40. Secured to the top of this projecting portion 40 and extending rearwardly from it is platen 411 which forms a rearwardly extending lip that overhangs the rear surface 43 of the wall 4. This platen 41 may be secured by suitable means such as screws 45, to the upwardly projecting portion 40. This lip is adapted to engage the forward edge of the arm 21 in a manner hereafter described.

Extending transversely across the frame is a paper guide generally indicated at 50. This guide in the embodiment of the invention illustrated is designed to guide lengths of papers such as electrocardiograph leads as they are unwound from a roll. The paper guide comprises a flat member 51 that extends transversely across the frame and extends beyond the side walls 2 and 3. Upwardly flared lips 52 are formed at either end of the sides of the guide to guide the paper at its sides. An opening 53 is formed in the guide of sufficient dimensions to expose the cutting edge 7 and to permit adjustment of the guide while still maintaining the cutting edge exposed. The guide is adapted to slide forwardly and rearwardly for adjustment on the top surfaces of the side walls 2 and 3 of the frame. Forward and rearward movement of the paper guide is controlled by a shaft 56 which extends through the forward wall 4. The rear end of the shaft 56 engages d a downwardly extending lip 57 integral with the guide 50. A knob 58 at the forward end of the shaft 56 permits axial movement of the shaft to effect forward and rearward adjustment of the guide 50.

In the operation of this cutting device, a roll of electrooardiogra-ph paper or similar paper is positioned at one side of the guide as, for example, at the side marks 60 in FIG. 2. The free end of the roll is then unrolled across the cutting device and the length of the guide 50 until a segment of the tape is located directly over the cutting edge 7. The operator presses downwardly on the knob 38. When the knob 38 is pressed downwardly it causes the supporting means 25 to pivot forwardly about the pivot 29. As this pivoting movement continues, the surface of platen 28 comes into engagement with the paper directly above the cutting edge 7. When the platen surface starts to press against the paper directly above the cutting edge '7, cutting edge 7 will adjust itself into uniform engagement with the platen surf-ace, with this compensation or movement being accommodated by the spring I13. On continuing pivoting movement of the knob 38, the arm 21 starts to slide forwardly across the top of the cutting blade until the forward edge 78 of the arm 21 slides under the lip 41. This forward sliding action is effected by the loose interengagement of the rear end of the arm 21 with the support means 25. Upon still further pivoting movement of the knob 38, the platen surface is pivoted about an axis substantially coincident with its forward edge with this pivoting action, as viewed in FIG. 4, being clockwise in direction. This pivoting action is effected by the combination of the locking action between the forward end 70 of the arm 21 and the lip 41 and the continued downward pressure at the rear end on the arm 21 by rollers 33 which now begin to roll forwardly over the upper surface of the arm 21. As the rollers 33 move across the upper surface of the arm 21 over a very limited distance, and upon continued downward pressure on the knob 38, the forward end 70 of the arm 21 engages and locks into the lip 41 with this forward end acting substantially as a pivot point. Thus, significant leverage is effected on arm 21 at the rearward end of the arm 21 while effectively securing the forward end 70' as a pivot point. The platen surface will thereupon exert considerable force against the paper directly over the cutting edge 7 to effect a cutting action. Upon release of the downward pressure on the knob 38, the spring action of springs 34 return the arm 21 and support means 25 toward their original position and upon further upward movement of the knob 38, the platen 20 and arm 21 are removed from locking interengagement with lip 41 for a subsequent cutting cycle.

The preferred embodiment of this invention is illustrated in FIGS. 5 to 8 inclusive. The continuous cutting blade 106 (FIGS. 6 and 8) is positioned within the frame. This cutting blade is preferably rectangular in shape with curved corners and has an upper edge 107 lying preferably in a horizontal plane which presents a continuous rectangular cutting edge against which a sheet of paper is adapted to be cut. The cutting blade may be formed of any suitable blade material. The blade has a reinforcing bracket 104 positioned within it with an upper surface extending transversely across the area defined by the blade walls and with vertically extending legs suitably and permanently secured to the inner surfaces of opposite blade walls. This blade 106 removably fits about a metal block which it frictionally engages. Thus the blade may be easily removed and replaced when worn. A resilient pad 110 is positioned above the bracket 104 and may be formed of a material such as polyurethane foam. The block 105 is supported on a base 111 by suitable means which may also secure the block 105. Such suitable means may comprise screws 112 which extend upwardly through leaf spring 113, base 111 and block 105 to secure the block and base to the leaf spring 113. The

leaf spring 113 may, if desired, be substantially rectangular in shape with the base 111 secured to its forward end. The rear end of the spring 113 is secured, for example, by screws 116 to the shoulder 115 which projects upwardly and may be integrally formed with the bottom 103. A machine screw 117 is threaded downwardly through the block 105 and base 111 to contact the upper surface of the bottom 103. Adjustment of the screw will adjust the normal down limit of the cutting edge 107 which effectively defines a thickness and number of papers that may be cut at one time. The spring 113 supports the cutting blade for vertical and rocking movement over a limited distance so as to facilitate uniform engagement of the cutting edge 107 with the platen.

The platen 120 is formed with a hard nonresilient surface, preferably rectangularly shaped, and adapted to be pressed into uniform cutting contact with the cutting edge 107. This platen may be formed of hard steel with a flat uniform surface. The platen 120 is supported on a suitable support such as the arm 121 formed as an elongated flat member having a width preferably slightly greater than the width of the platen 120. The arm 121 is engaged by a second support means 125 at its rear end for limited movement of the platen surface 120 longitudinally of the cutting device. The second support means 125 preferably comprises a member having opposite legs 126 interconnnected by a web 127 that preferably extends arcuately along corresponding edges of the legs 126. The lower ends of the legs 126 are pivotally engaged one each to a side wall 101 and 102 by pins 129 which extend coaxially inwardly from the side walls 101 and 102 on a level below the horizontal plane passing through the cutting edge 107. This second support means 125 must withstand considerable stresses and therefore should be made relatively substantial as is illustrated in the drawings. The platen arm 121 is loosely interengaged with the second support means 125 by the mechanism best illustrated in FIG. 8. A plurality, and preferably two, downwardly extending pins 131 are secured at their upper end to the lower surface of the arm 121. These pins are positioned at the rearmost end of the arm 121 and preferably extend normal to the platen 120. These pins 131 engage the transversely extending rod 132 which extends across support means 125 and is secured at its ends in side walls 126. The pins 131 are interengaged with this r-od by flat plates 130 which are positioned securely on the pins 131 and extend laterally therefrom to engage the under surface of the rod 132. The upper surface of arm 121 is formed with an arcuate portion 122 at its rear end. This arcuate portion 122 is engaged by rollers 133 coaxially mounted on a shaft secured at its ends to the inner surfaces of legs 126. The axis of the shaft extending through the rollers 133 is parallel to the axis of shafts 129. Rollers'133 are positioned rearwardly of pins 131 and the rod 132 as viewed in FIG. 8. The rollers are adapted to roll over the arcuate surface portion 122 in a manner hereafter described. The arm 121 is normally tensioned to rotate in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 4 about the shaft 132 by means of springs 134. These springs comprise a pair of helical springs coaxially mounted on shaft 129 with one end of each spring engaging the web 127 and the other end engaging plate 130. Preferably one spring is provided for each pin 131 and if desired each plate 130 secured to the pins 131 may be provided with a notch (not shown) at the rear edge thereof to engage one of the ends of the spring 134. A tongue 123 extends forwardly from the forward surface of web 127 and has an upwardly extending screw 124 partially threaded into a hole at the forward end of the tongue. This screw 124 is adapted to be vertically adjusted to engage the lower surface of arm 121 to limit counterclockwise rotation of the arm under the influence of spring 134.

A lever arm extension comprising a shaft 136 projects angularly forward from the support means 125 with 6 the rear end of the shaft 136 engaging the web 127 and the forward end of the shaft suitably terminated at a knob 138.

The forward wall is flared upwardly at its center portion to provide a projecting portion 140. Secured to the top of this projecting portion 140 and extending rearwardly from it is a platen 141 which forms a rearwardly extending lip that overhangs the rear surface 143 of the wall 100. This platen may be secured by suitable means such as screws 145, to the upwardly projecting portion 140. This rearwardly extending lip is adapted to engage the forwardly projecting pins 170 in a manner hereafter described. Projecting rearwardly from the rear surface 143 is a pin 146 which is positioned below the platen 141 and is adapted to engage a slot 147 in the forward end of the arm 121 when the arm is moved forwardly in a manner as hereafter described.

Extending transversely across the frame is a paper guide generally indicated at 150. This guide, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, is designed to guide lengths of paper such as electrocardiograph leads as they are unwound from a roll. The paper guide comprises a flat member 151 that extends transversely across the frame and extends beyond the side walls 101 and 102. Upwardly flared lips 152 are formed at either end of the sides of the guide to guide the paper at its sides. An opening 153 is formed in the guide of suflicient dimensions to expose the cutting edge 107 and to permit adjustment of the guide while still maintaining the cutting edge exposed. The guide is adapted to slide forwardly and rearwardly for adjustment on a pair of shafts 154 which are positioned on the inner sides of and adjacent to the side walls 101 and 102. These shafts 154 are secured at their forward end in the forward wall 100 and at their rear ends in bosses 155 integral with the side walls 101 and 102. The guide may be secured to these shafts 154 which act as guide rails by suitable means. Such suitable means may, for example, comprise downwardly flared lips at opposite side edges 157 of the opening 153 which downwardly flared lips are peened over at their lower edges to slidably engage the shafts 154 between the peened over portion and the under surface of the flat member 151. The guide may be simply adjusted by grasping either side and sliding it forwardly or rearwardly to a selected position.

In the operation of this cutting device, a roll of electrocardiograph paper or similar paper is positioned at one side of the guide 50, as for example, at the side marked 160 in FIG. 6. The free end of the roll is then unrolled across the cutting device and the length of the guide 150 until a segment of the tape is located directly over the cutting edge 107. The operator presses downwardly on the knob 138. When the knob 138 is pressed downwardly it causes the support means 125 to pivot forwardly about the pivot 129. As this pivoting movement continues the recess 147 formed in the forward end of the arm 121 engages the rearwardly extending pin 146, and as the knob 138 is continually pressed downwardly, the arm 121 slides forwardly on pin 146 until the pins hit the rear surface 143 of the forward wall 100 just below the platen 141. At this point, with .proper adjustments having being effected, the platen 120 is in close proximity to the paper about to be cut. As the knob 138 continues to press downwardly and the forward movement of the arm 121 has been stopped by engagement of the pins 170 with the walls 100, the rolls 131 begin to roll over the arcuate portion 122. Continued movement thereby causes the arm 121 to pivot in a clockwise direction as viewedin FIG. 8 with the pins 170 and 146 functioning as a pivot point and the rollers 133 transmitting a downward force sufiicient to cause the interaction of cutting edge 107 and platen 120 to cut the paper positioned between them. Upon release of the downward pressure on knob 38, springs 134 cause the rollers 132 to move in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 8 and thereby release the downward forces on arm 121. The various components may then return to their original position and upon continued upward movement of the knob 38 the platen 120 and arm 121 are removed from locking interengagement with the forward wall and the cut portion of the strip of paper is exposed for removal from the cutting edge 107.

What is claimed is:

1. A cutting device for cutting segments from a sheet comprising,

means forming a cutting edge,

a platen having a surface against which said edge may be pressed to cut a sheet placed therebetween, means normally supporting said platen with said surface in spaced relation to said edge,

means spaced from said supporting means for securing one portion of said platen in said relation, and means for pivoting said platen about said secured portion toward said edge whereby sheets positioned between said edge and surface will be cut therebetween.

2. A cutting device for cutting segments from a sheet comprising,

means forming a continuous cutting edge,

means normally supporting said cutting edge in a substantially horizontal plane, a platen having a nonresilient surface, first support means supporting said platen at one end in a position laterally spaced from said cutting edge,

second support means supporting said first support means on an axis parallel to said platen surface for moving said platen surface across and in facing relation with said. cutting edges,

engaging means for engaging said platen at the end opposite said one end when positioned across said cutting edge, and

means for pivoting said platen toward and into cutting engagement with said cutting edge about an axis at said opposite end. 3. A cutting device as set forth in claim 2 wherein said second support means pivotally supports said first support means and is adapted to pivot said platen surface across and in facing relation with said cutting edge.

4. A cutting device as set forth in claim 2 wherein said means forming a continuous cutting edge comprises,

a vertical continuous blade having a cutting edge lying in a single horizontal plane, and

said means normally supporting said cutting edge comprising a spring supporting said blade for movement over limited distances from a normal position in a plurality of directions.

5. A cutting device as set forth in claim 3 wherein said second support means includes a lever arm pivotally supported at one end, with said platen supported. with its nonresilient surface parallel to the axis about which said lever arm is pivoted. I

6. A cutting device for cutting segments from a sheet comprising,

means forming a cutting edge lying in a horizontal plane,

means resiliently supporting said cutting edge for limited movement in a plurality of directions,

a platen having a nonresilient surface adapted to be pressed into cutting contact with said cutting edge, means supporting said platen for movement of said surface into facing relation with said edge,

means for securely engaging said platen at one side of said cutting edge when said platen is positioned in facing relation with said edge, and

means for applying a leverage force against said platen remote from said one side whereby said platen surface is pivoted about said one side to cut a sheet positioned between said surface and edge.

7. A cutting device for cutting segments from a sheet comprising,

a frame,

a continuous cutting blade having a cutting edge lying in a horizontal plane,

means supporting said cutting blade for limited resilient movement in a plurality of directions including a spring interconnecting said frame and cutting blade,

a platen having a nonresilient surface shaped to be pressed into uniform cutting contact with said cutting edge,

first support means supporting and engaging said platen at one end for limited longitudinal movement of said platen surface, second support means pivotally secured to said frame and supporting said first support means on an axis parallel to said platen surface and normal to the direction of said longitudinal movement for moving said platen surface across and in facing relation with said cutting edge,

engaging means for engaging said platen at the end opposite said one end when positioned across said cutting edge, and

means for pivoting said platen toward and into cutting engagement with said cutting edge about an axis at said opposite end.

8. A cutting device as set forth in claim 7 wherein said second support means includes a pair of spaced legs interconnected at their upper ends by a connecting web and pivotally secured to said frame at their lower ends, with said first support means positioned between said legs.

9. A cutting device as set forth in claim 7 wherein said first support means includes an arm with said platen secured to the forward end thereof and with the rearward end positioned between said legs.

10. A cutting device as set forth in claim 9 having means secured to said legs for loosely engaging said arm for limited longitudinal movement.

11. A cutting device as set forth in claim 10 wherein said means secured to said legs comprise a pin projecting inwardly from said legs and engaging the lower surface of said arm, and a bearing projecting inwardly from said legs rearwardly of said pin and engaging the upper surface of said arm.

12. A cutting device as set forth in claim 11 wherein said bearing is a roller adapted to rotate about an axis parallel to the axis about which said legs are pivoted.

13. A cutting device as set forth in claim 12 wherein.

said legs are pivoted about axis below said cutting edge.

14. A cutting device as set forth in claim 13 wherein spring means normally tension said arm forwardly with respect to said first supporting means.

15. A cutting device as set forth in claim 14 having a lever arm extension with one end secured to said web and the other extending forwardly of said device.

16. A cutting device as set forth in claim 15 wherein said spring interconnecting said frame and said cutting blade comprises a leaf spring lying substantially in a plane parallel to said cutting edge with one end secured to said frame and the other to said cutting blade.

17. A cutting device as set forth in claim 15 wherein said engaging means comprises a lip extending rearwardly from the forward end of said frame.

18. A cutting device as set forth in claim 9 having means secured to said legs for engaging said arm comprising a plurality of elements extending inwardly from said legs and operatively engaging opposite sides of said arm at the rear end thereof.

19. A cutting device as set forth in claim 18 wherein said plurality of elements includes roller means engaging the upper surface of said arm with the axis of said roller means parallel to the axis on which said legs are pivotally secured.

20. A cutting device as set forth in claim 19 wherein said plurality of elements includes a shaft means extending between said legs and parallel to the axis of said roller means, with said shaft means positioned below and operatively engaged with the lower portion of said arm.

21. A cutting device as set forth in claim 19 wherein said upper surface of said arm has an arcuate portion engaged by said roller means.

22. A cutting device as set forth in claim 21 wherein said legs are pivoted about an axis below said cutting edge.

23. A cutting device as set forth in claim 22 having helical spring means interengaging said first and second support means for tensioning said second support means toward a selected position relative to said first support means.

24. A cutting device as set forth in claim 23 having means for removeably interengaging said cutting blade and said supporting means for said cutting blade.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,220,296 11/1940 Simister 83564 10 WILLIAM W. DYER, JR., Primary Examiner.

L. TAYLOR, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A CUTTING DEVICE FOR CUTTING SEGMENTS FROM A SHEET COMPRISING, MEANS FORMING A CUTTING EDGE, A PLATEN HAVING A SURFACE AGAINST WHICH SAID EDGE MAY BE PRESSED TO CUT A SHEET PLACED THEREBETWEEN, MEANS NORMALLY SUPPORTILNG SAID PLATEN WITH SAID SURFACE IN SPACED RELATION TO SAID EDGE, MEANS SPACED FROM SAID SUPPORTING MEANS FOR SECURING ONE PORTION OF SAID PLATEN IN SAID RELATION, AND MEANS FOR PIVOTING SAID PLATEN ABOUT SAID SECURED PORTION TOWARD SAID EDGE WHEREBY SHEETS POSITIONED BE6TWEEN SAID EDGE AND SURFACE WILL BE CUT THEREBETWEEN. 